Lincoln Electric Automation and JITECH are forming a global product partnership to develop simulation technology that will allow fabricators to automate structural steel products. StruCIM is described as a “powerful 3D simulation software system” that will make it possible to “simulate and evaluate alternative methods for the automation of modern steel fabrication operations.”

According to their partnership agreement, Lincoln Electric Automation will be the master integrator of StruCIM and will sell licenses and/or build custom robotic-welding and -cutting solutions. JITECH will optimize automatic programming features for specific work cells.

The automation program will have four primary tasks:
•  Recognize features (e.g., copes, holes and welds) and automatically generate tool paths for scribing, cutting, welding and drilling;
•  Recognize the sub materials associated with a member assembly and generate the tool path necessary to note their position and piece mark on the main member material;
•  Simulate in 3-D and evaluate alternative automation methods;
•  Use proven simulation technologies to provide easy and accurate preparation and verification of robot and automation programming.

“The agility, mobility and flexibility of robotic operations, paired with StruCIM technology, will seamlessly enable the coordination of several currently discrete operations, including cutting, coping, layout marking and welding,” according to Lincoln’s announcement. “Using these systems, the fabrication of each individual part can be fully programmed from start to finish. These solutions will provide the structural steel fabrication industry with unprecedented automated programming and fabrication capability.

Cleveland-based Lincoln Electric Co. designs, develops, and manufactures arc-welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, fume extraction equipment, and plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment.

JITECH Fabrication Technologies, Montreal, engineers designs for steel structures and fabrication. StruCIM is a licensed trademark of JITECH and Lincoln Electric Automation.

“The goal of the partners is to revolutionize the fabrication industry with new levels of speed and effectiveness regarding weldment design while reducing costs and project time to completion,” according to Lincoln.